Waterfalls were always my favorite nature attractions since my childhood days. Therefore I decided my 2010 annual vacation to Sri Lanka should kick start with a trip just to sight waterfalls as many as we can. These waterfalls are the obvious ones and I have visited most of these many a times before. But since I didn’t have a digital photography collection of these waterfalls and I wasn’t able to visit any of these for the last 7-8 years I decided to visit this time around. Therefore one of my very close buddy organized the trip after getting the list of waterfalls from me that we needed to visit.

We planned this journey couple of months before our annual vacation to Sri Lanka. We went in 2 trips with the same thing in mind. The 1st trip happened to be the very next day after we arrived in Sri Lanka and the 2nd one was a few days later. This report is mainly on the 1st trip

Day 1

We left around morning 6.00 from Dehiwala with Bopath Ella to be our 1st sighting in mind. We reached Kuruwita around 8.00 – 8.30 and from Kuruwita took a left turn and travelled about 3kms to a village called Agalwatta where the fall is located. It was interesting to see that the area surrounding the fall has changed a lot from my last visit for this fall in 1996. Then as per our agenda it was Doovili falls in Kalthota, so we made a move towards Balangoda. After passing Pelmadulla town we were lucky enough to spot Kirindi Ella in distance from the main road (although I have seen images of this waterfall had no idea where it is located exactly). So we have to come back towards Pelmadulla town and took a right turn in Kuttapitiya road. Continued about another 5 kms to reach the falls. The observation platform was about 300 steps down and while we were there the sky looks gloomy as a heavy rainfall was nearing. So couldn’t go to the base of the fall and decided to get a move. The rain continued to fall as we passed Balangoda therefore have to drop the idea of going to Kalthota where Doovili Falls is located.

Bopath Ella

Bopath Ella in distance

Kirindi Elle as seen from main road

Kirindi Ella from the observation platform

Misty mountains alongside main highway

The stream beneath the Double bridge In Kalupahana

We stopped to have lunch in Balangoda around 3.30 and since the continuous rainfall we decided to go straight to Ella for our overnight stay in Ambiente guest house.

As we reached to the guest house at night and were too tiring just sitting in the car most of the evening 🙂 …. had an early dinner and went to bed very early. We had no idea what we are supposed to witness the next morning.

Day 2

We woke up next day morning to one of the most breathtaking views one could experience. There was the famous Ella gap right in front of our balcony and Ravana Falls on to the right side where for a moment I felt I’m in a heavenly place. We were surprised to hear that the guest house staff saying that this is the real Ravana Falls and later I got my doubts cleared about it thanks to members of Lakdasun.

Time to wake up with a WOW …..

Spectacular view from our balcony

The Ella mountain range

The Ella Gap and Ravana Falls

The historical Ravana Falls zoomed

The Ambiente Guest House

View from the dining area

Book now ….. 🙂 (Click image to enlarge)

After spending the whole morning in the Guest House enjoying the breathtaking views, breakfast, and with number of photographs we made a move to see the Bambaragala falls which is on the Wellawaya Road side. We had to travel about 7kms from the guest house to reach the fall.

Then our destination was to Maskeliya Holiday Bungalow in Nortonbridge and after inquiring from many people on our way we were told that getting to Nuwara Eliya and then via Hatton is the best route. Since we left Ella around noon and due to the bad condition of the roads from Welimada to Nuwara Eliya we could reach Nuwara Eliya town only around 4.00 PM. Had some short eats for lunch and went to Hawa Eliya to have a quick view of the Love’s Leap Fall where you can sight the falls from distance from the road and soon left to Nortonbridge. We had missed seeing St Clair’s Falls and Devon Falls, the two main waterfalls on the Thalawakelle – Hatton road since it got dark when we passed the area. 🙁

We woke up next day morning expecting we might experience another scenic view around the Bungalow. But unfortunately it was not the same as in Ella but still it was a wonderful place for a different reason. As the Maskeliya Bungalow was surrounded with few mountains and thick forest. As we felt as it was a great hideaway and enjoyed the relax and lonely atmosphere of the place.

The Aberdeen waterfall was just 4kms from the bungalow. Due to the heavy rainfall on the previous night we were bit hesitance to see the falls since the staff of the bungalow warned us that the steps/path must be very slippery. So we thought to postpone it to the next day. Soon after a delicious breakfast from the bungalow we left to Maskeliya to visit Laxapana Falls and few waterfalls in the Moray road near Mousakelle reservoir in mind. Stop for a while near Seven Virgin Hills (Saptha Kanya) and it gave me some wonderful memories of climbing the hills somewhere in year 2000 with some of my ex colleagues. Then we went to the base of Laxapana Falls and then left soon to Maskeliya town to grab something quickly for lunch and to return to Nallathanni towards Moray Road. Suddenly we stopped just before the 3 way road (thunman handiya) as we could see the spectacular Adams Peak Falls in a very long range. Upon inquiring how to reach close to the fall we were asked to go back to Maskeliya and then towards an area called Upcoart (as I remember) to reach the Gartmore Estate and then to the falls. Here where we got it all wrong. As soon after Maskeliya the road was pretty bad (ideal for a 4 wheeler but not for a small car). And as it was late in the evening we somehow managed to reach the upper Gartmore estate after traveling about 10kms from Maskeliya town. As we reached near the Tea Factory we were told that another 2km or so we need to walk through the tea estates to a place where we can reach close to the base of the falls. As it was dark we gave up at that point. We have to return back from the same route, dejected. We came back with an unexpected experience of a difficult drive. But we managed to see some of the “nameless” waterfalls on the Gartmore estate which we would have never planned to visit. So that’s something gave us a smile end of the day. And as my friend who always used to say “okkoma wenne hondatai”. And that was the exact case here.

Morning was overcast and misty

The Maskeliya Bungalow front view

Saptha Kanya Hills

And again …. Saptha Kanya

Laxapana Falls

Laxapana Falls near the base ….

Our little transporter ….

Tea estates ….

Hmmm …. Now which way ??

A un named water fall in The Gartmore Estates …

Its dark … but still looking good – Moussakelle Reservoir

Day 4

With overnight rain and overcast condition, we woke up early thinking how should we go about the final day of the trip. Unfortunately visiting Aberdeen Falls again was not possible as it was drizzling the whole morning. So we decided to go again the same route towards Maskeliya as we did previous day and branch off to Nallathanni towards Moray Road. The Moussakelle reservoir and the surroundings was a spectacular sight and we came across Mohini Falls after travelling few kms on the road side. Then we came to a junction of Moray Estate and we continued further about 5Km to have a spectacular view of Adams Peak Falls. Then we were told about few meters away there is another fall and we walked then through a footpath to see the beautiful Moray Falls. Beside Moray Falls there was another fall. Our guide to Moray Falls mentioned the name of that waterfall but sadly we couldn’t memorize it or a keep a record of it.  Too bad. Left the breathtaking Moray Road soon after as the rain starts pouring once again. We then came to Nortonbridge town where the rain was easing but yet overcast condition around 2.00PM. And decided to head home as it getting dark. So we took the Ginigathhena road via Dik-Oya where we stopped for some photo shoots as there were some beautiful sceneries. Guess what? We were able to see glimpse of Aberdeen Falls from distance. The waterfall which we never got an opportunity to visit. Later we went to my friend’s in-laws house in Kandy then reached Colombo around 10.00PM with lots of wonderful memories.